Posts for: July, 2018

X-rays revolutionized dental care in the 20th Century. The same could happen in the 21st Century as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) becomes a fixture beside the traditional x-ray machine.

CBCT made its debut in dental offices about a decade and a half ago. It utilizes the same invisible energy as traditional x-rays to create images of the face and jaw. But unlike traditional x-rays, which can only depict structures in the two dimensions of width and height, CBCT can create three-dimensional images in amazing detail.

The CBCT's x-ray projector rotates around a patient's head. As it emits a cone-shaped beam of x-rays, the device simultaneously collects anywhere from 150 to 599 distinct image views. It transmits these views to a computer that assembles them into three-dimensional images that can be viewed on a computer display.

From the data file of images, dentists can re-format a variety of views and angles of teeth, jaws and other facial bones at various levels of magnification. Because of this wide range of views, all in striking detail, CBCTs are highly useful among other things for diagnosis of malocclusions (bad bites), the size and location of infections, obstructions at possible implant sites, or jaw problems prior to surgery.

Because they expose a patient to higher doses of radiation than a standard x-ray machine, they're normally limited to more complex oral situations. That means you'll still undergo standard x-rays for most of your dental treatment needs. CBCT radiation levels are lower, however, than medical CT scans, which use a fan-shaped beam that can expose a patient to ten times the radiation of a CBCT. For dental care, a CBCT machine also produces greater image detail than an MRI.

Depending on your needs, CBCT may one day be a part of your dental care.Â With their range and accuracy, it could play a major role in helping you attain good health.

A root canal might be needed if you are struggling with a severe and persistent toothache or experience pain or sensitivity when eating. A root canal is a procedure for removing infected pulp from the interior of a tooth and its root. If left untreated, the tooth can become so compromised that extraction is required. A root canal strengthens and restores an infected tooth and saves it from being extracted. In Braintree, MA, the dentists at Dr. George Salem and Associates can advise you if a root canal is needed.

Root Canals

Root canals make it possible to save damaged or infected teeth from extraction. Root canals also stop the infection from spreading to other areas of the mouth. During the root canal procedure, infection is removed and the affected tooth is strengthened and restored. Several symptoms can be signs you may need a root canal. Your Braintree dentist can determine if a root canal is needed in your case. The following symptoms are signs you may need a root canal:

Severe and persistent toothache

Persistent mouth pain or pressure

Sharp pain when biting or chewing food

Tooth sensitivity when consuming hot and cold foods or beverages

Root Canal Procedure

A root canal procedure is similar to that of having a cavity filled. The dentist first drills into the affected tooth and removes all the infected pulp from inside the tooth and root. After the infected pulp has been removed, the interior of the tooth and root is thoroughly cleaned out. The tooth and root are then filled in and sealed with a dental filling, which strengthens and restores the tooth, as well as prevents further infection. In some cases, a dental crown is placed over the tooth for additional strength and protection.

Benefits of Root Canals

Root canals offer multiple benefits. Not only do they save damaged and infected teeth from extraction, but they fully restore those teeth, as well. The benefits of root canals include:

Preventing extraction

Preserving the natural teeth

Strengthening and restoring teeth

Alleviating tooth pain and sensitivity

Preventing the spread of infection

There are several symptoms that can be an indication you need a root canal. See a dentist if you have a severe and persistent toothache, mouth pain, or are experiencing persistent tooth sensitivity. To find out if you need a root canal, schedule an appointment at Dr. George Salem and Associates, your Braintree, MA, dentists, by calling the office at (781) 843-0660.

When is the best time to floss your teeth: Morning? Bedtime? How about: whenever and wherever the moment feels right?

For Cam Newton, award-winning NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, the answer is clearly the latter. During the third quarter of the 2016 season-opener between his team and the Denver Broncos, TV cameras focused on Newton as he sat on the bench. The 2015 MVP was clearly seen stretching a string of dental floss between his index fingers and taking care of some dental hygiene business… and thereby creating a minor storm on the internet.

Inappropriate? We don't think so. As dentists, we're always happy when someone comes along to remind people how important it is to floss. And when that person has a million-dollar smile like Cam Newton's — so much the better.

Of course, there has been a lot of discussion lately about flossing. News outlets have gleefully reported that there's a lack of hard evidence at present to show that flossing is effective. But we would like to point out that, as the saying goes, “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” There are a number of reasons why health care organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA) still firmly recommend daily flossing. Here are a few:

It's well established that when plaque is allowed to build up on teeth, tooth decay and gum disease are bound to follow.

A tooth brush does a good job of cleaning most tooth surfaces, but it can't reach into spaces between teeth.

Cleaning between teeth (interdental cleaning) has been shown to remove plaque and food debris from these hard-to-reach spaces.

Dental floss isn't the only method for interdental cleaning… but it is recognized by dentists as the best way, and is an excellent method for doing this at home — or anywhere else!

Whether you use dental floss or another type of interdental cleaner is up to you. But the ADA stands by its recommendations for maintaining good oral health: Brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste; visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups; and clean between teeth once a day with an interdental cleaner like floss. It doesn't matter if you do it in your own home, or on the sidelines of an NFL game… as long as you do it!

Surgical treatment for periodontal (gum) disease can go a long way toward restoring your mouth to good health; however, it does not change your susceptibility to the disease. That’s why we recommend that you come in regularly for periodontal cleanings after your treatment. Here are some frequently asked questions about keeping your mouth healthy after gum disease treatment.

How often do I have to come in for periodontal cleanings?
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer to that question: It really depends on your individual situation. For example, some individuals may have a more aggressive form of periodontal disease that requires more frequent periodontal maintenance (PM) treatments to maintain control. Others may have greater success controlling the buildup of disease-causing plaque with at-home oral hygiene measures, and therefore need PM less often. However, for people with a history of periodontal disease, getting PM treatments at a three-month interval may be a good starting point.

What happens at a periodontal maintenance appointment?
A thorough cleaning of the crown and root surfaces of the teeth, aimed at removing sticky plaque and hardened dental calculus (tartar), is a big part of PM treatments — but there’s much more. You’ll also receive a thorough clinical examination (including oral cancer screening), a review of your medical history, and x-rays or other diagnostic tests if needed. The status of any ongoing periodontal disease will be carefully monitored, as will your success at maintaining good oral hygiene. Decisions about further treatment will be based on the results of this examination.

What else can I do to keep gum disease at bay?
Keeping your oral hygiene in top-notch condition — which includes effective brushing and flossing every day — can go a long way toward controlling gum disease.Â In addition, you can reduce risk factors by quitting tobacco use and eating a more balanced diet. And since inflammatory conditions like diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular disease can make periodontal disease worse (and vice versa), keeping these conditions under control will greatly benefit both your oral health and your overall health.